Toyota is next US car maker in the multi-billion litigation firing line, facing damages of $US56 billion to $US58 billion in a law suit over alleged emissions violations.

Toyota falls foul of litigation-mad America

Toyota is next US car maker in the multi-billion litigation firing line, facing damages of $US56 billion to $US58 billion in a law suit over alleged emissions violations.

The US Justice Department has sued the US operation of the Toyota Motor Co, claiming the pollution detection systems in 2.2 million of its vehicles violated US clean air laws.

The suit, brought on behalf of the US Environmental Protection Agency, is seeking a court order which would force Toyota to fix alleged violations on 1996 to 1998 Toyota and Lexus vehicles, Reuters reports.

It is also seeking civil penalties of up to $25,000 for each car sold in violation of the law before January 31, 1997 and $27,500 for each vehicle sold after that date.

The civil suit was filed in the US District Court in Washington, DC, after Toyota rejected an offer from the justice Department to settle the charges.

The law suit claims that Toyota's emissions control monitoring system could permit increased emissions of hydrocarbon vapours from the fuel system without the knowledge of the car owner.

This follows last week's California court judgement which awarded $US4.9 billion damages to a family which suffered burns in a Chevrolet Malibu which caught fire after it was hit from behind at 100km/h by a drunk driver.

GM is to contest the damages bill, but meanwhile the family says it will donate half the money to improve the treatment of burns victims in California.